- Enrollment
- 1,588
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dothan, AL
Highlands Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Highlands Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010123001448
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highlands Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #3 of 11
- elementary schools in Dothan · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- students per teacher
- 38.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Highlands Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary School ranks #3 of 11 elementary schools in Dothan, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+36 students YoY
Highlands Elementary School grew from 565 students in 2022-23 to 601 in 2023-24 (+6.4%).
Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+36 students YoY 010123001448 · Dothan, AL Elementary · MID · TRAD
501 enr · 17.9:1 · 38.8% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Dothan High School (1,588 students)
Highlands Elementary School grew from 565 students in 2022-23 to 601 in 2023-24 (+6.4%). Teacher FTE added 28.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Highlands Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dothan High Sc
Dothan High School
1,588 students
- Dothan Prepara
Dothan Preparatory Academy
1,034 students
- Carver 9th Gra 583
Carver 9th Grade Academy
583 students
- Kelly Springs 516
Kelly Springs Elementary School
516 students
- This school 501
Highlands Elementary School
501 students
- Hidden Lake Pr 476
Hidden Lake Primary School
476 students
What this shows Highlands Elementary School reports 501 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highlands Elementary School compares
Highlands Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.8% | ▼ 34% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 501 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
501
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 58% in Alabama - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,750
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 501 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 59.7%
African American 21.8%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%
Asian 7.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 59.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.8, Highlands Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dothan City reports $13,750 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highlands Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dothan Preparatory Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carver 9th Grade Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kelly Springs Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hidden Lake Primary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highlands Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,034
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 476
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar elementary schools in Dothan
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Kelly Springs Elementary School
Standard public school
516 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Hidden Lake Primary School
Standard public school
476 students 19:1 students per teacher
Girard Intermediate School
Standard public school
449 students 29.9:1 students per teacher
Carver School of Mathematics Science and Technology
Standard public school
429 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Selma Street Elementary School
Standard public school
421 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Heard Elementary School
Standard public school
389 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~501 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highlands Elementary School
How many students attend Highlands Elementary School?
Highlands Elementary School has 501 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dothan, AL. CCD year-over-year: 565 (2022-23) → 601 (2023-24), up 36.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Highlands Elementary School is 17.9:1, which is 1% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Highlands Elementary School?
38.8% of students at Highlands Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highlands Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Highlands Elementary School is White at 59.7% of enrollment, in Dothan, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highlands Elementary School?
Highlands Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Highlands Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Dothan?
By Resource Investment Index, Highlands Elementary School ranks #3 of 11 elementary schools in Dothan, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Dothan on the city page.
What other schools are in Dothan City?
Besides Highlands Elementary School, Dothan City also operates Dothan High School (1,588 students), Dothan Preparatory Academy (1,034 students), and Carver 9th Grade Academy (583 students). See the Dothan City district page for the complete list.